Rather than let everything go to waste, I have decided to put Ukay Manila for sale, and it is my hopes that the store will go to an aspiring entrepreneur who will take care of the business as well as I have. This is a great opportunity for those who want to start an online store, as buying Ukay Manila allows you to skip the difficult part of building a site, building a brand, and growing a customer base from scratch.

Here is what’s included in the package:

ukaymanila.com, and all its subdomains, CMS (content management system) and content (plus its 1,000+ followers signed up on the store)
Ukay Manila’s Twitter page (315 followers)
Ukay Manila’s Facebook page (5,243 fans and growing)
Ukay Manila’s Multiply page (900 contacts)
Ukay Manila’s Gmail account and mailing list

All of this took two years to build. Current inventory will not be included, I’ll take care of liquidating that myself. I’ll also be around to familiarize the new owner with Ukay Manila’s shopping cart system and instruct her on how to run the store.

For more details about the sale, please send me an email at laurendado at gmail dot com. Please also contact me at this email address if you have a purchase I have not attended to.

Have a nice day everyone!

Nautical Drop-Waist Tunic, P450

The summer days just keep getting warmer. We need an escape to the beach! Since we can’t stop thinking about the ocean, we might as well wear it, too. Matching this nautical number with sailing-inspired pieces like a striped bag is absolutely dandy. A pair of espadrilles to complete the outfit, and we’re ready for the sun, sand, and surf!

Speaking of summer escapades, make sure to drop by the Bargain Bin and take advantage of our summer sale! We’re also selling shoes from Love Walks In at a 10% discount, so building that perfect summer wardrobe will be even easier.

A nice, cool swim sounds really good right about now. See you later!

Summer means a lot of different things to different people. For some, it’s the start of an awesome vacation, no school or homework to ruin your day. For others, it’s the time of the year for out-of-town trips and beach escapades. While some people like to kick back indoors to escape the summer sun, others stay out every night and match the heat with their parties. Whatever way you look at it, summer means a lot of fun.

That’s why we at Ukay Manila are proud to announce our summer sale! We’re adding new items to the Bargain Bin so you can have something new to wear at each of your summer festivities. You’re bound to find a chic piece that’s perfect for your upcoming summer wardrobe. Even better, we’ll be dropping prices at Love Walks In by 10%, from now until April 15! Who said Christmas had to be the only season for shopping? Soak up the sun, and a few great deals along the way.

The summer sale isn’t the only thing to get excited about this week, either. Drop by the store tomorrow night and catch our newest items as they go online! We’ll have you believing in summer romances, since you’ll be falling head-over-heels in love with the brand new batch of clothes.

See you real soon!

Without further ado, here are the lucky winners:

A Shoe Tale

We wanted to ask Vern’s readers, “Who is your favorite fashion icon and how does she inspire you?”

The lucky winner, Larisse, answered enthusiastically, “sarah jessica parker! i love how she can mix and match stuff that you don’t think would go together and pull it off. so chica!”

So chica, indeed! Congrats, Larisse – you get to take home this gorgeous number!

The Capricious Club

We wanted to know what Bestie’s readers’ were going to wear this summer, so we asked, “What is your favorite summer trend?”

The winner, Kari, kept things both chic and practical with her answer: “My favorite summer trend is the hats. Nothing like a blazing sun to give you the excuse to wear the most dramatic, floppy, wide-brimmed straw hats you own! It protects your hair and your face as well ”

Congrats, Kari! We’re sure you’ll have a blast at your summer parties, looking absolutely fabulous in this lovely striped dress.

Denise Katipunera

Denise’s readers got to get in touch with their romantic sides when we asked them to describe their most romantic date outfits.

Sittie had everyone falling in love with her and her winning answer: “I’d probably get all nervous to meet the guy, so I would want to be comfortable and yet show a bit of who I am. I will going to wear a dress makes me feel pretty without showing too much skin. And a shoes that will make my legs look good and are comfortable to walk in because it’s always good to wear comfy shoes just in case he takes me on a wild adventure. Hihihi.”

Here’s hoping you won’t feel so nervous wearing the beautiful bohemian dress you won! Congrats, Sittie!

A Plus B in the Sea

We got Arianne and Bea’s followers to play with their imagination for a bit and asked them this question: “It’s a nice day for a picnic outside. What are you wearing?”

Out of all the entries, the awesome twosome picked Khiampi’s! Here’s her daydream picnic outfit: “I am wearing a white spaghetti strap tank top paired with floral maxi skirt and a brown belt, and a pair of my favorite oxfords! To complete the picnic-ish feel, I’ll top it with a cute boater hat!”

Congratulations, Khiampi! The adorable frock you won is perfect for a second summer picnic (maybe even more!).

Congratulations once again to all the winners, and thank you all for your support! Here’s to another stylish year!

Ukay Manila turns two years old this March! We’re celebrating our anniversary with the help of five lovely fashion bloggers who capture the essence of the Ukay Manila look. Meet Vern, Bestie, Denise, and Arianne and Bea, girls with their own unique style and who enjoy the thrill of bargain shopping as much as you do. We’re spreading the love to their readers and our customers by giving away dresses in each of their blogs!

A Plus B in the Sea

The Capricious Club

Denise Katipunera

A Shoe Tale

If you’d like to win any of these gorgeous frocks, simply follow the mechanics at each blog to join. You can join all four contests if you wish, but you can only win once to give a fair chance to others. You have until March 30, 2011 to submit your entries. Good luck!

Mint Green Floral Dress, P500

The summer months bring out the most gorgeous colors. We’d love to take a walk in the park and smell the flowers. This dress is comfy enough for the outdoors and undeniably chic. We’ll put on a pair of light-colored wedges for the stroll, and accessorize with an equally-lovely shoulder bag. The sun can get really bright, especially at midday, but our straw sunhats will shield us from the glare while tying the rest of the outfit together into an irresistible summer sight.

Before you head out to find that perfect, idyllic park, check out the new dresses at the store. You’ll find more than one item for your frolics in the sunshine. You’ll probably also find a pair of shoes to go with your dress at Love Walks In. If you need a walking buddy, why not gift a girlfriend and let her choose an outfit for your day out?

All this talk about summer is making me want to go outdoors myself! I guess that’s all for now – summer’s calling.

This is probably why I received an inspiration board request from a customer who wanted to know what she can wear with denim shoes. It can be hard to imagine the fabric on your feet when you’re accustomed to it being on your legs instead. Worn the right way, however, denim shoes can be a fabulous addition to anyone’s wardrobe. For your inspiration, here are three ways to wear them, starring the denim pairs from Love Walks In.

Wear It with a Lace Dress

Secret Garden Wedges, P750

These denim wedges and their adorable floral print are love in shoe form. You can try wearing them with one of the many lace dresses we sell at Ukay Manila to create a gorgeous contrast between fabrics. The tender softness of lace ties well with denim’s normally-tough appearance, thanks to the flowers balancing them out. The bows at the tips of the shoes enhance the dress’ romantic qualities.

Wear It with Khaki Shorts

Tribe of Denim, P595

Talk about odd couples – we don’t usually match khaki with denim. The brown detail on these Tribe of Denim booties, however, helps bridge the gap between fabrics. The end result is a rather ordinary wardrobe selection made chic and edgy thanks to a pair of unique shoes.

Wear It with a Floral Skirt

Again, we’re using the details on the Secret Garden Wedges to complement other outfit pieces. The floral prints on both the shoes and skirts create a cohesive look full of color and sweetness. Wearing skirts with this peep-toed pair of footwear also gives the added bonus of lengthening your legs, making them irresistible for the handsome young lads across the street.

Use your imagination and try to come up with other fabulous outfits using denim shoes. You can use the shoes’ details to your advantage and create a look that’s totally you. The most important thing is that you have fun with what you’re wearing.

Floral Skirt with Embroidered Hem, P350

We’d love to take a scooter down the French Riviera, or some idyllic country road somewhere far away, while wearing this lovely piece. We’ll dress it up with a ruffled white top and some comfy tan loafers for the road. Of course, we’ve got to have a dandy messenger bag to keep our passports, cameras, and diaries in.

The first month of summer also marks the second birthday of Ukay Manila! As a special treat, we’re giving away four awesome dresses through four of our favorite blogs! Start watching our friends at A plus B in the Sea, The Capricious Club, Denise Katipunera, and A Shoe Tale for  details on joining.  We’ll also post announcements on Facebook, Twitter, and our mailing list once they’ve posted our lovely prizes.

You can help us celebrate, too, buy checking out our dresses, skirts and tops, as well as the shoes at Love Walks In! Ukay Manila gift cards are another great way to spread the love. We wouldn’t have been able to last these two amazing years if not for your support. Thank you!

See you soon!

Doves and Rainbows Dress, P500

Out of the many ways to wear this piece, one of our favorites has to be hippie-chic. To pull off the look, start off with a pair of round shades, just like what Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) wore in Almost Famous. Accessorize sparingly, since the dress is already pretty lively; a small tasseled bag works beautifully. Wrap it all up with a cute pair of pumps, and you’re all set to paint the town psychedelically.

Our second announcement is that we’re holding a contest to celebrate Ukay Manila’s 2nd anniversary! Drop by the blog on Friday, March 11 for the official announcement. We’d like to thank you for all the support these last two amazing years, and you can be sure our celebratory contest is going to be a lot of fun. See you!

Hi girls! I’m hitting the beach from Sunday, February 27, until Thursday, March 3 for a much-needed vacation and tan. This will mean a couple of things for you lovely ladies:

1) New items will arrive on the store on March 7 (Monday). And since Ukay Manila’s anniversary is coming up soon, we’re holding a major exciting dress giveaway through our favorite fashion bloggers! I’ll reveal more details when I arrive.

2) Pending purchases have to be settled on or before Saturday, February 26, so I can ship them before I leave. Otherwise, your package will be shipped on March 4.

3) I’ll still be available on Facebook, Twitter, and email to respond to your questions and confirm your payment. However, I will not be able to send out clothes until I come back. Love Walks In shoes can still be sent while I’m away though, since I can coordinate with my supplier in my absence.

Hope you girls have a great weekend!